Chapter 290: Wood and Eastwood Part 2
Translator:Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor:Nyoi-Bo Studio
Not long after Eastwood showcased his hat-trick, it became obvious that he had become a front-line shooter who Forest could not part with. On the other hand, George Wood had also just signed a new contract with the team and was being promoted as the next successor to the captaincy. Both players formed the future core of Forest. Tang En did not wish for the key players under him to have too many differences.
While the situation at hand could be considered a mid-tier crisis, it was also an opportune moment for him to deal with the relationship between the two. It had been something of a headache for him.
On the final day of training before the matches began, Tang En gave out simple instructions for next day’s match. After he did so, Kerslake, who was next to him, announced the end of the training session. Tang En added, “Rest well for the night, everyone. Relax a little. I don’t want to see anyone’s calves still shaking on the field tomorrow.”
A burst of laughter came from the team and the group scattered.
“George, Freddy. You two stay behind.” Tang En pointed to Wood and Eastwood, who were both preparing to walk out.
While the two in question seemed somewhat surprised by Tang En’s request, the rest of the players were not.
Even David Kerslake left the area. When the training grounds were only left with Tang En, Wood, and Eastwood, Tang En swept his gaze across their faces. Eastwood appeared massively ill at ease. The usual smile on his face was gone, and in its place was an uncertain expression. Meanwhile, George Wood stayed silent, his face expressionless.
While Eastwood had a good reason for his dislike of Wood, Wood probably had realized the disparity in Eastwood’s attitude towards him and their other teammates. He assumed it was because Eastwood looked down on him. Since Eastwood did not like him, Wood had no reason to shamelessly insist that he had to. Those were likely Wood’s thoughts about the matter.
Tang En deliberated for a moment and then asked, “Do you know why I asked the two of you to stay behind?”
Neither answered. Regardless of who it was to answer, responding either “I know” or “I don’t know” would be an embarrassment.
Knowing what the two were likely thinking, Tang En broke into a brief smile. No matter how, these two were still just boys.
“Have either of you recently read the newspaper or gone online?”
Both shook their heads.
“Hm. Well, it makes no difference if you have or haven’t. Either way, the two of you definitely know more about this matter than reporters who only know how to make up stories. I’m also sure the both of you already know why I’ve asked you to stay behind. So let’s not all stand here posing; there aren’t any paparazzi around us. I know, Freddy. You’ve always harbored a grudge because of the injury Wood caused you. I’m not the kind of person who would ask someone else to simply forgive and forget. But I know you’re a reasonable person, right?”
Eastwood bowed his head and made no response. He did not know how to reply to such a question.
Tang En then turned to Wood. “George, I believe you’ve long been aware of the matter between you and Freddy. After you knew about it, did you apologize to him?”
Wood was momentarily silent before shaking his head.
So that was it! This silly lad!
Tang En sighed internally. It seemed like there would not be any resolution today. Knowing the whole story without trying to resolve it, and not knowing the whole story and therefore being unable to find a way to resolve it were two entirely different matters.
Now, it was evident that George Wood knew the situation leading to the poor relationship between him and Eastwood. Yet he made no attempts to show kindness or initiate a friendship to let the victim, Eastwood, feel better about what happened.
This kid had no idea how to work with people!
Tang En looked down at his watch and waved his hands at them. “That’s all for today. Both of you will be starters tomorrow. I hope this won’t affect your match conditions. Regardless of what grudge you have with each other, don’t bring it onto the field. Go home and have a good rest.”
Tang En shook his head helplessly as he looked at Wood’s retreating back. Wood was so much like himself in the past, with an awful lot of pride… It was a very simple statement, yet it was so difficult to say it out loud.
※※※
When the team bus of Sporting Club de Portugal arrived in City Ground the same time as Nottingham’s, the fans surrounding the square became excited. Fans of the home team burst into loud singing. They were standing on the two sides of the road in an organized manner, slapping their palms on their boards. They appeared rather imposing. And all this was without anyone directing them. On the other hand, the fans who had traveled all the way from Portugal also displayed their capabilities. Singing Portuguese songs unknown to the English, most of them wore the green and white striped jersey of Sporting CP and were waving their flags. The police who were within the area of the stadium and square immediately became more alert, scanning every little corner in the area.
Portugal did not have football hooligans, but England did. Moreover, with this sort of “life and death battle” that dictated which team would advance, the enthusiasm shown by the fans was still within expectations of the police. They only had to make sure to extinguish any little fire that could eventually lead to chaos.
The good thing was that everyone stayed calm and nothing happened that upset anyone. Only when both teams had gotten off the bus and entered their respective locker rooms did the fans gathered at the square begin entering the stadium. Those without tickets made their way to the nearby bars to watch the match. The police only relaxed after the crowd in the square became sparse.
Ever since Tony Twain had taken over the Forest team, the police were always the most exhausted whenever there was a home ground match. There was an obvious increase in the number of football fans who returned to City Ground to watch the matches. When the fans’ fervor and anticipation towards football and the red Forest returned, so had the fanaticism. At first, the police paid little attention to it; after all, Forest had been on the decline for a long while. Even at its peak, City Ground was never at full capacity. The number of football hooligans had also steadily decreased. Most of the time, the police in charge of security at the stadium were only carrying out routine work.
However, from the time of the fatal incident involving Gavin Bernard, an innocent football fan, due to the fans’ riots, everyone began refocusing on the issue of security. The police had no choice but to re-examine the kind of impact Nottingham Forest could now have.
After Forest was successfully relegated to the English Premier League, it became the norm for the police to maintain high-security in every home ground match.
As the crowds in the square began to lessen, the singing from the stadium also rose in volume. The police who were still outside patrolling looked towards the towering walls.
The match was about to begin.
